Skip to content

Commit 21183d3

Browse files
jstacmmcky
andauthored
Edits to OLG lecture (#110)
* misc * Add olg to _toc in models --------- Co-authored-by: mmcky <mamckay@gmail.com>
1 parent 9a07a77 commit 21183d3

File tree

3 files changed

+160
-116
lines changed

3 files changed

+160
-116
lines changed

in-work/OLG.md

Lines changed: 0 additions & 116 deletions
This file was deleted.

lectures/_toc.yml

Lines changed: 1 addition & 0 deletions
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ parts:
2828
- file: schelling
2929
- file: solow
3030
- file: cobweb
31+
- file: olg
3132
- caption: Other
3233
numbered: true
3334
chapters:

lectures/olg.md

Lines changed: 159 additions & 0 deletions
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
1+
---
2+
jupytext:
3+
text_representation:
4+
extension: .md
5+
format_name: myst
6+
format_version: 0.13
7+
jupytext_version: 1.14.4
8+
kernelspec:
9+
display_name: Python 3 (ipykernel)
10+
language: python
11+
name: python3
12+
---
13+
14+
15+
# The Overlapping Generations Model
16+
17+
In this lecture we study the overlapping generations (OLG) model.
18+
19+
The dynamics of this model are quite similar to Solow-Swan growth model.
20+
21+
At the same time, the OLG model adds an important new feature: the choice of
22+
how much to save is endogenous.
23+
24+
To see why this is important, suppose, for example, that we are interested in
25+
predicting the effect of a new tax on long-run growth.
26+
27+
We could add a tax to the Solow-Swan model and look at the change in the
28+
steady state.
29+
30+
But this ignores something important: households will change their behavior
31+
when they face the new tax rate.
32+
33+
Some might decide to save less, and some might decide to save more.
34+
35+
Such changes can substantially alter the predictions of the model.
36+
37+
Hence, if we care about accurate predictions, we should model the decision
38+
problems of the agents.
39+
40+
In particular, households in the model should decide how much to save and how
41+
much to consume, given the environment that they face (technology, taxes,
42+
prices, etc.)
43+
44+
The OLG model takes up this challenge.
45+
46+
We will present a simple version of the OLG model that clarifies the decision
47+
problem of households and studies the implications for long run growth.
48+
49+
50+
## The Model
51+
52+
We assume that
53+
54+
- time is discrete, so that $t=0, 1, \ldots$ and
55+
- individuals born at time $t$ live for two periods: dates $t$ and $t + 1$.
56+
57+
58+
### Preferences
59+
60+
Suppose that the utility functions take the familiar constant relative risk
61+
aversion (CRRA) form, given by:
62+
63+
```{math}
64+
:label: eq_crra
65+
U_t = \frac{c^1_t^{1-\gamma}-1}{1-\gamma} +
66+
\beta \left( \frac{c^2_{t+1}^{1-\gamma}-1}{1-\gamma} \right )
67+
```
68+
69+
Here
70+
71+
- $\gamma$ is a parameter and $\beta \in (0, 1)$ is the discount factor
72+
- $c^1_t$ is time $t$ consumption of the individual born at time $t$
73+
- $c^2_t$ is time $t+1$ consumption of the same individual (born at time $t$)
74+
75+
### Production
76+
77+
For each integer $t \geq 0$, output $Y_t$ in period $t$ is given by
78+
79+
$$
80+
Y_t = F(K_t, L_t)
81+
$$
82+
83+
Here $K_t$ is capital, $L_t$ is labor and $F$ is an aggregate production function.
84+
85+
Without population growth, $L_t$ equals some constant $L$.
86+
87+
### Prices
88+
89+
Setting $k_t := K_t / L$, $f(k)=F(K, 1)$ and using homogeneity of degree one now yields:
90+
91+
$$
92+
1 + r_t = R_t = f'(k_t)
93+
$$
94+
95+
The gross rate of return to saving is equal to the rental rate of capital.
96+
97+
The wage rate is given by
98+
99+
$$
100+
w_t = f(k_t) - k_t f'(k_t)
101+
$$
102+
103+
104+
105+
### Equilibrium
106+
107+
Savings by an individual of generation $t$, $s_t$, is determined as a
108+
solution to:
109+
110+
$$
111+
\begin{aligned}
112+
\max_{c^1_t, c^2_{t+1}, s_t} \ & u(c^1_t) + \beta u(c^2_{t+1}) \\
113+
\mbox{subject to } \ & c^1_t + s_t \le w_t \\
114+
& c^2_{t+1} \le R_{t+1}s_t\\
115+
\end{aligned}
116+
$$
117+
118+
The second constraint incorporates notion that individuals only spend
119+
money on their own end of life consumption.
120+
121+
Solving for consumption and thus for savings,
122+
123+
$$
124+
s_t = s(w_t, R_{t+1})
125+
$$
126+
127+
Total savings in the economy will be equal to:
128+
129+
$$
130+
S_t = s_t L_t
131+
$$
132+
133+
134+
135+
### Dynamics
136+
137+
We assume a closed economy, so domestic investment equals aggregate domestic
138+
saving. Therefore, we have
139+
140+
$$
141+
K_{t+1} = L_t s(w_t, R_{t+1})
142+
$$
143+
144+
Setting $k_t := K_t / L_t$, where $L_{t+1} = (1 + n) L_t,$ and using homogeneity of degree one now yields:
145+
146+
```{math}
147+
:label: k_dyms
148+
k_t = \frac{s(w_t, R_{t+1})}{1 + n}
149+
```
150+
151+
152+
153+
A steady state is given by a solution to this equation such that
154+
$k_{t+1} = k_t = k^*$, i.e,
155+
156+
```{math}
157+
:label: k_star
158+
k^* = \frac{s(f(k^*)-k^*f'(k^*), f'(k^*))}{1+n}
159+
```

0 commit comments

Comments
 (0)